Cleaning system

ABSTRACT

A cleaning system is described that comprises a cleaning utensil ( 4 ) featuring a handle ( 6 ) and a cleaning head ( 5 ) as well as at least one device for cleaning the cleaning utensil with a cleansing fluid, especially after use. According to the invention, the facility for cleaning the cleaning utensil with a cleansing fluid comprises an aerosol spray container ( 15 ) with an aerosol spray.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns a cleaning system that comprises a cleaningutensil featuring a handle and a cleaning head as well as at least onedevice for cleaning the utensil with a cleansing fluid, especially afteruse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of cleaning systems that have cleaning utensils and a devicefor cleaning the utensil are known, such as e.g. from DE 299 21 374 U1.The cleaning system disclosed in the indentified reference consists of astorage container for storing and cleaning a toilet brush. For thepurpose of cleaning the toilet brush after use, the storage containercomprises a disinfecting unit featuring a tank with a disinfectingfluid, a spray device, a supply line from the tank to the spray deviceand a pump.

By operating the pump, a preset quantity of disinfectant is pumped fromthe tank and conducted via the supply line to the spray device fromwhere it is sprayed onto the brush head.

The disadvantage of this cleaning system is that it requires cumbersomeequipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the invention is to provide a cleaning system of theabove described type that has a fairly simple and cost-effectivestructure.

This objective is achieved by a cleaning system with all the features ofpatent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are describedin the sub-claims.

A cleaning system according to the invention, which comprises a cleaningutensil with a handle and a cleaning head as well as at least one devicefor cleaning the utensil with a cleansing fluid, is so designed that thefacility for cleaning the utensil with a cleansing fluid comprises anaerosol spray container with an aerosol spray.

Aerosol sprays are well known. Aerosols are understood to mean minutesolid or liquid particles suspended in a gas, such as air. Thisprinciple is used in the aerosol spray container. It consistsessentially of a container, e.g. a box, with a spray head fitted with avalve. Inside the container there is both a driving agent, usuallyliquefied or compressed gas, for providing pressure in the container,and an active agent, e.g. a cleansing agent. To open the valve, thespray head is usually depressed against the internal pressure in thebox. There may be an additional spring to ensure, on the one hand, thereturn of the spray head to its original position and, on the other, theclosing of the valve, such spring counteracting the depression of thespray head. When the valve is opened, the pressure in the vessel drivesout the active agent, which, due to the explosion-like expansion of thedriving agent, is dissipated into minute particles.

The cleaning system of the invention distinguishes itself by a simpleand cost effective construction. Cumbersome equipment known from priorart as described above, comprising a pump and spray device plus aseparate container with supply lines for the active agent can bedispensed with. Such functions are assumed in a simple manner by theaerosol spray container.

The known cleaning system, being independent of any power or othersupplies, can be placed anywhere in a sanitary room, wherever it is mosteasily accessible for use. The pressure of the driving agent in theaerosol spray container also ensures a very fine distribution of theaerosol during spraying. And it prevents the valves from becomingblocked.

The aerosol spray container can easily be bought as an accessory and,when empty, be exchanged for a new full container. This also allows theuse of different cleansing agents. Another advantage is an acousticcontrol through the spraying sound when the aerosol is dispersed.

When the container is empty, there will be no spraying sound. The springaction also disappears, i.e. the spring effect on the return springtension is reduced. This is an automatic indication of the end of lifeof such an aerosol container.

Suitable cleansing fluids are any cleansing agents available forsanitary purposes.

Preferred cleansing agents are those that contain so-called “dryingaccelerators”, e.g. liquids that mix with water while formingazeotropes. Such drying accelerators can be e.g. alcohol, especiallyethanol or isopropyl alcohol.

The cleansing fluids used in connection with the invention may alsocontain basically known anti-bacterial/anti-microbial substances,especially quaternary ammonium salts, such as octyl decyl dimethylammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethylammonium chloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate, as wellas phenols, such as o-phenylphenol, o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol, triclosan,silver and silver salt, hydrogen peroxide, either free or in a combinedform, hypochlorite, chloride, either free or in a combined form.

As mentioned above, the cleansing fluid may also contain fragrantadditives.

A particularly favourable cleansing fluid contains the following:

-   -   0.1% alkyl [50%C(14), 40%C(12), 10%C(16)] dimethyl benzyl        ammonium saccharinate],    -   79% ethanol,    -   20.9% other inert additives.

It is customary, without restricting the generalility of the system, touse hydrocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, propane or butane.

A preferred configuration of the invention features a device for closingand sealing the storage container. This is preferably hinged to theouter wall of the storage container in such a manner that it can swingfrom open to closed position. A particularly advantageous design of theclosing and sealing device is formed by two half-shell elements that canbe swivelled in opposition to one another.

The advantage of such a comparatively simple constructive measure isthat, with open half-shell elements, the intake port is large enough fora problem-free insertion from above of the cleaning utensil held inupright position. Since the half shells in open position form a sort offunnel with upwardly widening walls in essentially conical fashion, anydeveloping droplets can be caught and conducted into the containerinterior. There will never be any undesired, unaesthetical contaminationof the outer walls of the storage container.

The symmetrical arrangement of the half-shell elements permits an easyinstallation of an automatic closing mechanism, e.g. via a leverarrangement with lever elements, such mechanism leading to the halfshells automatically swinging into closed position when the cleaningutensil is inserted in the storage container. The two half shells arepreferably designed in such a way that, due to the effect of gravity,they automatically return to the open position when the cleaning utensilis lifted out.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the storage containercan be closed and sealed by means of a lid fitted to the handle of thecleaning utensil, such a lid being fitted on the rim of the storagecontainer from above when the cleaning utensil is inserted in it.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the storagecontainer of the cleaning system comprises at least one principalchamber for inserting and storing the cleaning utensil as well as asecondary chamber that is linked to the main chamber by an open passage.

The principal and secondary chambers are advantageously designed asseparate container sections that can be interconnected in a detachablemanner. The advantage of such a design is that the two containersections can be easily separated and cleaned independently. Emptying andcleaning the storage container thus becomes a simple and hygienicprocess.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is a design wherethe container section with the secondary chamber forms a pedestal onwhich the container section with the principal chamber can be fittedfrom above. The advantage of this design is that, for emptying andcleaning, the container section with the principal chamber can easily belifted off the container section with the secondary chamber forming apedestal. There is no need for any other parts to be dismantled orextracted. Following the cleaning process, the two container sectionscan be easily reconnected. Another advantage of the embodiment justdescribed is that the container section with the principal chamber canhave a geometrically simple design, e.g. as a bowl, which is easy toclean. Since, for achieving a fairly high concentration of cleansingfluid in the principal chamber combined with sparse application doses,the size of the container section will not significantly exceed thedimensions of a brush head, it can easily be swivelled around in a bathcontaining cleaning liquid.

The two container sections are advantageously linked with one anothervia a plug-in connection. This facilitates an easy separation andreconnection of the two sections with a minimum amount of force.

Furthermore, the container section designed as a pedestal may be widerthan the container section with the principal chamber in order to ensurethat the whole storage container has a firm and secure footing, withoutthe optical appearance suffering or the whole storage container beingtoo bulky.

The aerosol spray container with the aerosol spray can be fitted in theprincipal chamber of the storage container that also houses the cleaningutensil, or in the secondary chamber, which, as described above, islinked with the principal chamber by an open passage. The spray head ofthe aerosol spray container can be fitted on the side of or underneaththe cleaning head of the cleaning utensil.

Also possible is a design where the aerosol spray container is fitted inthe handle of the cleaning utensil, from where the aerosol is sprayedonto the brush head through appropriate openings from above; or thespray is placed in the brush head itself, which, for this purpose, mustfeature suitable outlet points.

Cleansing fluid can be applied quite simply by depressing the spray headof the aerosol spray container. This may be done manually.

With the cleaning system of the invention it would be of advantagehowever if a mechanism were to be provided for an automatic depressionof the spray head, such mechanism being activated, for example, byinserting the cleaning utensil in the storage container. Such automaticoperating mechanisms are known in principle. Their functioning isusually based on the existence of protrusions, levers etc. fitted on thestorage container in such a way that they automatically depress thespray head whenever the cleaning utensil is inserted in the container.

The spray head is automatically reset to the closed position of thevalve, due, as mentioned in the beginning, to the high pressure insidethe container, and through the effects of a return spring.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention features a time clock foroperating the opening mechanism. In this way cleaning can take place atregular, freely adjustable intervals, especially during prolongedstorage periods without the cleaning utensil being in use. If theaerosol also contains fragrances and since the cleaning container is nothermitically sealed, there is the added advantage of pleasant smellsgetting into the room at regular intervals.

In addition to the cleaning utensil being provided with a cleansingfluid, as described above, other cleaning agents may be added, e.g.lamps for a fluorescent light to kill off bacteria and similar.

The cleaning system described is intended especially for use in sanitaryequipment, in particular and preferably for the storage and, ifnecessary, cleaning of toilet brushes.

Brushes, especially toilet brushes, usually feature bunches of bristles.Instead of such bristles it is possible to use cleaning elements offlexible material produced by injection moulding. These can varyconsiderably with regard to diameter, length and number of elements. Forthe purpose of an optimum distribution of the cleansing agent across thewhole surface of different types of brush heads in the container, boththe amount of driving agent in the aerosol as well as the “spacefilling” by the brush head have been shown to be of importance. In thecontext of the invention “space filling” is understood to be a goodapproximation of the ratio of the volume taken up by the bristle carrierand bristle bunches, or the cleaning element carrier and the cleansingelements, on the one hand, to the volume enclosed by the surface of thehousing around the bristle bunches or cleaning elements, on the other.The specific form of the cleaning elements, or the specific bristles andnumber of bristles in a bunch, are of lesser importance.

An acceptable covering of the brush head surface with cleansing fluidhas been shown to be achieved with a concentration of driving agent inthe aerosol of greater than/equal to 10% and a space filling by thebrush head of less than or equal to 25%.

Up to a space filling level of 50% it is possible to achieve anacceptable covering of the brush head surface with cleansing fluid, withthe driving agent concentration being larger than/equal to 15% in theaerosol.

With a space filling level of between 50-80% an acceptable covering canusually be achieved with a driving agent concentration of largerthan/equal to 20% in the aerosol.

Overall, it has been shown that the quotient of space filling in % anddriving agent concentration in % should be smaller than/equal to 5. Thepreferred quotient is smaller than/equal to 3 and, even better, smallerthan/equal to 2.

An even distribution of the cleansing fluid during and immediatelyfollowing the spraying process can be further assisted by the pattern ofbristles on the brush head featuring preferred flow channels for thecleansing fluid. A design where the bristle bunches near the exit jetsof the cleansing fluid are spaced further apart proved to be ofadvantage. This makes it easier for the opposite side of the brush headto be reached and facilitates pronounced turbulence dynamics in thewhole area of the brush container.

In general, the cleaning system of the invention is suitable for thestorage and, if necessary, cleaning of all kinds of cleaning utensilsthat feature a handle and a brush head, for example also for storing andcleaning toothbrushes. The ratio between space filling and driving agentconcentration in the aerosol is equally applicable to such cases.

The cleaning system of the invention is suitable for storing and, ifnecessary, cleaning not only brushes but also any cleaning utensilswhere the cleaning head is designed not as a brush but as a formed shapeof foam or fleece and similar.

The invention will be now be explained in detail with reference to theembodiments shown in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view an exemplarycleaning system according to the invention with the aerosol spraycontainer being arranged at the side of the cleaning head of thecleaning utensil.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplaryalternative embodiment of a cleaning system according to the inventionwith the aerosol spray container being arranged centrally below thecleaning utensil.

FIGS. 3 a to 3 b are perspective views of exemplary cleaning heads fortoilet brushes such as may be used in a cleaning system according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning container 1 with a first container section 2comprising a principal chamber 3 which houses a cleaning utensil 4featuring a cleaning head 5 and a handle 6. The illustrated cleaningutensil 4 is a toilet brush, shown as one embodiment of the invention,without restricting the generality of the principle. Reference number 7refers to the bristles of the cleaning head 5. The principal chamber 3can be closed and sealed to the outside by means of a lid 8 arranged onthe handle 6 of the cleaning utensil. Additional sealing is provided bya sealing ring 9 resting on a stepped ridge 10 along the inner wall 11of container section 2.

Reference number 12 in the illustration refers to a second containersection. This features a secondary chamber 13. Inside the secondarychamber 13, held by a hollow, cylinder-shaped bracket 14, there is anaerosol spray container 15 containing an aerosol with a cleansing agent.The principal chamber 3 and the secondary chamber 13 are interconnectedvia an open passage 16 arranged at the level of the head 17 of theaerosol spray container 15. Inside the secondary chamber 13 there isalso a support element 18 with a spring element 19, the function ofwhich shall be described in detail below.

As can be seen from the illustration, the principal chamber 3 and thesecondary chamber 13 are, according to the invention, designed asseparate container sections 2, 12. Special to the design shown is thatcontainer section 2 is inserted in container section 12. In this case,container section 2 rests on the head 17 of the aerosol spray 15 as wellas on the support element 18 with the spring element 19. It may beuseful to arrange several support elements 18 with spring elements 19around the circumference of container section 12. For emptying orcleaning or for changing the aerosol spray container 15, containersection 2 can simply be lifted up out of container section 12. Followingthe cleaning process, or after changing the aerosol spray container 15,container section 2 can simply be reinserted from above into containersection 12.

Having a slightly larger cross-section area than container section 2,which encloses the principal chamber 3, container section 12 forms akind of pedestal for container section 2 and thus ensures greaterstability.

Container section 2 features, along the outer circumference of its lowerpart, a screen 20 that stretches horizontally outward and forms the partthat rests on the support elements 18 with the spring elements 19 and onthe head 17 of the aerosol spray container 15. In the region of the head17 of the aerosol spray container 15, the screen 20 features an axialextension that serves as an operating element 21 for the aerosol spraycontainer 15. A quick exertion of pressure on the handle 6 of thecleaning utensil 4 briefly depresses container section 2 against thetension of the spring element 19. The spray head 17 of the aerosol spraycontainer 15 is compressed simultaneously via the operating element 21with the result that a small amount of aerosol is dispersed and, throughthe passage 16, reaches the principal chamber 3 with the cleaning head5. Due to the fact that, as described, the principal chamber 3 is sealedto the outside, the aerosol reaching the cleaning head 5 of the cleaningutensil 4 is of such high concentration that an excellent degree ofdisinfection is achieved within a short time.

FIG. 2 shows a further preferred embodiment of the invention.Corresponding parts have the same reference numbers. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2, a centrally arranged hollow cylinder-shaped receptacle22 in the container section 12 forms the secondary chamber for theaerosol spray container 15. Above the hollow, cylinder-shaped receptacle22, there is a radial extension 23 for accepting container section 2.The open passage 16 to the principal chamber 3 of container section 2 islocated in the floor of the latter, directly above the spray head 17 ofthe aerosol spray container 15, so that, by depressing the spray head 17of the aerosol spray container 15, aerosol is sprayed from below intothe principal chamber 3 housing the cleaning head 5.

The hollow, cylinder-shaped receptacle 22 for the aerosol spraycontainer 15 and the radial extension 23 for accepting container section2 are bordered by an operating element 24 that fits in a correspondingreceptacle 26 in container section 12 and slides down along it invertical direction against the tension of a spring element 27 fitted onthe floor of container section 12. As will be described, such anarrangement facilitates an automatic closing of container section 2 whenthe cleaning utensil 4 is inserted.

For closing and sealing purposes in the embodiment shown, two half-shellelements 28 a, 28 b, moveable in opposition to one another, are hingedto container section 12 along its upper circumference. Both are shown inopen position in the drawing. Two lever elements 29 a, 29 b are firmlyfixed to the half-shell elements 28 a, 28 b, to ensure an automaticmovement to the closed position when the cleaning utensil 4 is insertedinto the principal chamber 3, such lever elements 29 a, 29 b beinghinged both to container section 12, in the region of the radialextension on the inner wall 30, and to the operating element 24.

When pressure is exerted on container section 2 from above, e.g. whenthe cleaning utensil 4 is inserted in the principal chamber 3, containersection 2 is pressed downward and exerts corresponding pressure on theoperating element 24 which, in turn, is moved downward against thetension of the spring element 27. This movement of the operatingelements 24 causes the lever elements 29 a, 29 b, hinged to theoperating element 24, to be tilted downward, thus causing the half-shellelements 28 a, 28 b to swing towards their closed position. In an idealcase, the tension of the spring element 27 and the weight of thecleaning utensil 4 are so well tuned that the insertion of the cleaningutensil 4 only leads to a closure of container section 2, whilst anadditional exertion of pressure on the handle 6 of the cleaning utensil4 would be required to activate the opening mechanism of the spraybottle 15. This has the advantage that the cleaning utensil 4 can bestored in the closed container section 2, without the opening mechanismof the aerosol spray container 15 being automatically activated.

In the embodiment shown, the aerosol spray container 15 penetrates sodeeply into the receptacle of container section 2 in the area of theradial extension 23, that, following the insertion of the cleaningutensil 4 into the principal chamber 3 and following the movement of thehalf-shell elements 28 a, 28 b into their closed position, another shorttap would also briefly depress the spray head 17, with the result thataerosol is sprayed upward into the principal chamber 3 for a short time.

The illustration also shows that the floor 31 of the container section12 is raised in the area of the open passage 16, so as to prevent anyliquid from escaping through the passage 16.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show typical toilet cleaning heads such as can be usedin a cleaning system according to the invention.

The cleaning head 5 shown in FIG. 3 a is configured as a brush head. Itconsists of a brush carrier 5 a having a diameter of 25 mm and a lengthof 60 mm. 64 bunches of bristles 7 a featuring straight bristles 7, anaverage bunch diameter of 6 mm and a free length of 27.5 mm are evenlydistributed over the carrier. The cleaning/brush head 5 with itscovering occupies a space volume of about 400 ccm. Of this, the volumeof the bristle carrier 5 a amounts to about 30 ccm. The bristle bunches7 a occupy a space of approx. 50 ccm.

This results in a total space-filling rate of about 20% by the bristlecarrier 5 a and the bristle bunches 7 a. The cleansing fluid can spreadwithout restriction in the remaining approximately 80% of the space. Anacceptable covering of the cleaning/brush head surface with cleansingfluid is achieved with a driving agent concentration of largerthan/equal to 10% in the aerosol.

In the cleaning head 5 shown in FIG. 3 b, configured as a brush head,the bristles 7 are made of a TPE material. The bristles 7 are truncatedcones tapering outwardly. The bristle carrier 5 a has a diameter of 30mm and a length of 60 mm. 231 conical bristles 7, tapering outward froma 5 mm to a 3 mm diameter and having a length of 20 mm, are distributedevenly across the bristle carrier 5 a. The space-filling rate in thiscase is 35%. An acceptable covering of the brush head surface withcleansing fluid is here achieved with a driving agent concentration oflarger than/equal to 15% in the aerosol.

Another typical cleaning head 5 for toilet brushes, designed as a brushhead, possesses comparable dimensions. However, in contrast to thecleaning/brush head 5 shown in FIG. 3 a, this cleaning head contains 112bristle bunches 7 a with undulating bristles 7. The bunches 7 a arethicker and more fanned out than in the cleaning/brush head shown inFIG. 3 a. With an average bunch diameter of 1 mm, there is aspace-filling rate of 70%. An acceptable covering of the brush headsurface with cleansing fluid is here achieved with a driving agentconcentration of larger than/equal to 20% in the aerosol.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A cleaning system comprising a cleaning utensilincluding a handle and a cleaning head and at least one device forcleaning the cleaning utensil with a cleansing fluid comprising anaerosol spray container with an aerosol spray.
 22. The cleaning systemaccording to claim 21, wherein the aerosol spray contains antibacterialor anti-microbial substances.
 23. The cleaning system according to claim21, wherein the aerosol spray contains a drying accelerator.
 24. Thecleaning system according to claim 21, wherein the cleaning systemincludes a storage container for the cleaning utensil.
 25. The cleaningsystem according to claim 24, wherein the cleaning system includes adevice for closing the storage container.
 26. The cleaning systemaccording to claim 25, wherein the device for closing the storagecontainer is hinged to an outer wall of the storage container in suchthat the device is pivotable between open and closed positions.
 27. Thecleaning system according to claim 26, wherein the device for closingthe storage container comprises two half-shell elements that arepivotable in opposition to another.
 28. The cleaning system according toclaim 26, further comprising a closing mechanism for automaticallyswinging the two half-shell elements into a closed position when thecleaning utensil is inserted in the storage container.
 29. The cleaningsystem according to claim 28, wherein the closing mechanism compriseslever elements.
 30. The cleaning system according to claim 25, whereindevice for closing the storage container comprises a lid fitted on thehandle of the cleaning utensil, the lid being placed on the rim of thestorage container when the cleaning utensil is inserted in the storagecontainer.
 31. The cleaning system according to claim 24, wherein thestorage container comprises at least one principal chamber for insertingand storing the cleaning utensil and a secondary chamber that is linkedto the principal chamber by an open passage.
 32. The cleaning systemaccording to claim 31, wherein the principal chamber and the secondarychamber are separate container sections.
 33. The cleaning systemaccording to claim 32, wherein the container sections housing theprincipal and the secondary chambers are interconnected in a detachablemanner.
 34. The cleaning system according to claim 33, wherein thecontainer section housing the secondary chamber has a pedestalconfiguration to which the container section housing the principalchamber can be attached.
 35. The cleaning system according to claim 33,wherein the container sections housing the principal and the secondarychambers are interconnected by a plug-in connection.
 36. The cleaningsystem according to claim 21, wherein the aerosol spray containerdischarges into the principal chamber.
 37. The cleaning system accordingto claim 21, further including an operating mechanism for operating theaerosol spray container, the operating mechanism being configured suchthat it will be actuated by the insertion of the cleaning utensil in thestorage container.
 38. The cleaning system according to claim 37,further including a return mechanism for closing the aerosol spraycontainer after a brief discharge of aerosol spray.
 39. The cleaningsystem according to claim 38, wherein the return mechanism operates viaspring tension.
 40. The cleaning system according to claim 21, whereinthe ratio of percent space filling in to percent driving agentconcentration smaller less than or equal to 5.